Some startups like to operate on "stealth mode" before launching a product, and then there's UntitledStartup.com who is operating in "anti-stealth mode". Instead of keeping their plans secret, they are documenting the day to day aspects of founding a startup in short videos on their website. For example yesterday, they discuss meeting with an attorney to handle IP issues and trying to figure out of a domain for their unspecified product.
Launched by two developers, Aviel Ginzburg and Damon Cortesi and incubed by Andy Sack's Founders's Coop. they openly admit they don't yet know what they are building. I found this design brief on 99Designs.com for a logo design.
"YOU TELL US. We've got no products and we're open to anything. But it's *very* likely we'll be building social media tools in the communications space. Create a logo that would make sense for whatever you think we should do, and whatever type of company you think we should be."
I'm intrigued by this reality TV showesque method of building a startup and it will keep me checking in to see the progress.
Good luck guys...
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I agree with Trafficspaces, it's marketing for sure, but it also appears as radicalization of the culture of openness which used to be (and often still is) common among start-ups and which totally opposes the "I won't tell you anything before you sign the NDA"-mentality, which I find paranoid and not very elegant (btw. this seems linked to the NDA question in the question section). But then sharing everything is easy as long as you actually haven't created anything original (like those dudes). You give unsubstantial output and might get substantial input. It will be interesting to see how their culture of openness develops as UntitledStartup.com actually develops something more substantial (if ever this should happen). My guess is that they'll keep it up, because the profit of their openness in terms of marketing is higher than the potential loss in terms of imitation. Further, making something REALLY public is also a way to protect yourself from imitation. If everybody knows that you were the first to announce an idea, someone else using it will look pretty bad. |
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Posted by hypios on Jan, 09 at 7:31 AM
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I like the concept, and love the transperancy of the traffic stats shown at the bottom, even that could be suitable app they could provide others. Im not sure if this would work again if someone else tried as they have first mover advantage similar to that million pixel project. http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/ The only point is that with external investors, VC firms maybe the open model may not always be appreciated, but it is likely to attract some interest and maybe rebuild how a startup is launched. Open maybe the new way for web 2.0 firms that don't have a set mold or product yet established. | |
Posted by The Lost Agency on Jan, 26 at 3:36 AM
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I totally agree with their ethos. You can try and hide everything you are doing for fear of someone stealing your idea, or you can throw it all into the open, bounce ideas of people as perviously mentioned and gain publicity and exposure from doing so. At gocarshare.com I'm definitely taking the latter approach. | |
Posted by gocarshare on Mar, 07 at 1:08 PM
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http://www.bigstartups.com
U gotta love the chutzpah they are showing.
Frankly, I consider their "anti-stealth" strategy a genius inbound marketing play.
Good luck to them. :)